The Global HPV Vaccination Initiative (GHVI) launched a student-led service club model in San Diego high schools to increase HPV vaccine education and uptake through peer-to-peer engagement. This initiative addresses the critical need for accurate, youth-centered information about HPV—the most common sexually transmitted infection and a leading cause of cervical, throat, and other cancers.

The program serves high school students, with a particular focus on schools in underserved communities where vaccine misinformation, stigma, and access barriers persist. Students are trained as ambassadors to lead campus discussions, host events, and share medically sound information with classmates.

Early outcomes show strong promise. A 2024 peer-reviewed study reported that peer-to-peer HPV education increased knowledge scores from 1.14 to 23.78 among youth participants (PMID: 39490282). Students in the GHVI program report feeling empowered to advocate for their own health and influence others.

This approach is not only effective—it’s scalable. Peer influence is a powerful tool in adolescent behavior change, and when young people lead the message, engagement is deeper and more relatable.

Lessons learned include the importance of early training, inclusive messaging that involves boys as well as girls, and collaboration with local partners like The Boys Institute. As the program expands, GHVI is committed to strengthening student voices in public health and building a future where all youth have the knowledge to prevent cancer before it starts.

Learning Objectives

1. Describe the impact of peer-led HPV vaccine education on adolescent health outcomes, including recent data showing significant increases in knowledge and awareness following youth-led interventions.

2. Identify key components of effective school-based public health campaigns, including training, student leadership structures, and trusted messaging strategies that resonate with teen audiences.

3. Apply youth-driven, community-centered approaches to improve vaccine confidence and uptake in underserved populations, using evidence and implementation lessons from GHVI’s student ambassador service club model.